fcrepo (Fedora Commons) is the linked data repository that Islandora uses to store digital objects and their metadata alongside Drupal. In an ISLE stack, fcrepo runs as a Docker service alongside the rest of the application.
The fcrepo component controls whether the Fedora service, its volumes, and related Islandora configuration are part of your stack.
Check current state
The output shows whether fcrepo is on, off, or drifted (meaning the project files no longer match the last applied state).
Enable fcrepo
sitectl component set fcrepo on
docker-compose.yml and restores the Islandora configuration required to connect Drupal to Fedora.
Disable fcrepo
sitectl component set fcrepo off
docker-compose.yml. A future docker compose up will no longer start Fedora.
Disabling fcrepo removes volumes from the Compose project definition. Existing fcrepo data on disk is not deleted immediately, but once you run docker compose down -v or similar, that data will be gone. Back up your fcrepo data before disabling on a site with content.
Sync fcrepo between environments
Copy the fcrepo database from one context to another:
sitectl isle sync fcrepo --source museum-prod --target museum-local
--yolo to skip in automation.
Use --fresh to always take a new backup rather than reusing one from today.
When to disable fcrepo
fcrepo adds significant resource requirements to a stack. You might disable it for:
- Minimal local development — if you’re working on Drupal theme or module code that doesn’t interact with digital objects
- Stacks that don’t use Islandora’s linked data features — some projects use ISLE as a Drupal hosting pattern but don’t use Fedora-backed objects
If you’re running a full Islandora installation with digital objects, fcrepo should be on. 
